Founding High School Principal

Southern Association of Independent Schools, Inc.; Roswell (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Atlanta Academy seeks a dynamic Founding Principal for a new 9–12 high school, reporting to the Head of School. This leader will extend the school’s individualized learning, relationships, and academic excellence into a high school program.

The ideal candidate combines educational leadership with a community-building mindset, ready to launch programs, recruit exceptional faculty, and partner with families to prepare students for college and beyond.

Qualifications

• Educational leadership experience at the secondary level.
• Experience leading college-preparatory programs.
• Strong understanding of adolescent development.
• Knowledge of innovative instructional practices (interdisciplinary, project-based, experiential).
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and inspire exceptional faculty.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance the vision for an innovative, college-preparatory high school.
• Extend the model into grades 9–12 with fresh ideas for the high school experience.
• Shape programs, staffing, schedules, systems, traditions, and structures for launch and growth.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen student learning, leadership, and future readiness.
• Oversee high school operations, budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and policies.

Skills

Educational leadership

Strategic thinking

Community building

Educational innovator

Faculty development

Data-driven instruction

Education

Master’s degree or higher in Educational Leadership, Education, or related field

Significant leadership experience in secondary school

Job description

Atlanta Academy is seeking a dynamic, visionary, and student-centered leader to serve as the Founding Principal of our high school and help lead the next chapter of our school’s growth. This position will report directly to the Head of School.

Building on Atlanta Academy’s established model of individualized learning, meaningful relationships, academic excellence, and a deeply connected community, the Founding Principal will lead the thoughtful extension of that experience into grades 9–12.

Reporting to and working closely with the Head of School, the Founding Principal will help shape a forward-thinking, college-preparatory high school that reflects Atlanta Academy’s mission while reimagining what the high school experience can be.

We are looking for more than an academic administrator. The ideal candidate is an educational leader, community builder, innovator, and visionary who connects naturally with students, earns families' trust, inspires faculty, and turns bold ideas into meaningful student experiences.

The Founding Principal will lead academics, student life, faculty development, college preparation, community engagement, and the continued development of the high school model—all while preparing students to thrive in college and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

Visionary & Strategic Leadership

• Partner closely with the Head of School to develop and advance the vision for an innovative, individualized, college-preparatory high school.

• Extend Atlanta Academy’s relationship-driven model into grades 9–12 while bringing fresh ideas to the high school experience.

• Shape the programs, staffing, schedules, systems, traditions, and structures needed to launch and grow the high school.

• Identify new opportunities that strengthen student learning, leadership, and future readiness.

• Oversee high school operations, budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and policies.

Academic Excellence & Innovation

• Lead a rigorous college-preparatory academic program that challenges students and supports individual strengths, interests, and goals.

• Develop an engaging curriculum that integrates interdisciplinary learning, STEM, creative arts, project-based learning, technology, and real-world application.

• Ensure students build the critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, independence, and self-advocacy skills needed for college and beyond.

• Inspire faculty to think beyond traditional classroom models and create meaningful, authentic learning experiences.

• Use data, research, and student outcomes to strengthen instruction, differentiation, and advanced learning opportunities.

College Preparation & Future Readiness

• Build a strong college-preparatory culture that helps students discover their strengths, explore interests, and work intentionally toward future goals.

• Ensure students are academically and personally prepared to pursue admission to colleges and universities that match their aspirations and potential.

• Implement an exceptional college counseling and advising program that provides individualized guidance to students and families.

• Create opportunities for students to stand out through academics, leadership, research, service, internships, entrepreneurship, and creative work.

• Build partnerships with colleges, businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to provide internships, mentorships, dual enrollment, capstones, and other real-world experiences.

• Stay current on college admissions trends and ensure students are well positioned for success.

Student, Faculty & Community Leadership

• Be a visible and engaged leader who connects with students and creates a culture where they feel known, valued, challenged, and supported.

• Set high expectations for character, academic engagement, responsibility, leadership, and citizenship.

• Create meaningful opportunities for student voice, choice, leadership, and ownership.

• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional educators who are passionate about students and excited to build something new.

• Foster a collaborative faculty culture that values creativity, professional growth, and shared responsibility for student success.

• Build strong, trusted relationships with families and communicate clearly about the high school's vision, programs, and growth.

• Serve as an ambassador for Atlanta Academy and develop partnerships that expand opportunities for students.

Qualifications & Experience

The strongest candidates will demonstrate educational leadership experience, strategic thinking, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and an authentic commitment to young people.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Master’s degree or higher in Educational Leadership, Education, or a related field.

• Significant successful leadership experience at the secondary school level.

• Experience leading or developing rigorous college-preparatory academic programs.

• Strong understanding of adolescent development and the academic, social, and emotional needs of high school students.

• Knowledge of innovative instructional practices, including individualized, interdisciplinary, project-based, and experiential learning.

• Strong understanding of the college admissions landscape and the preparation needed for students to succeed.

• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and inspire exceptional faculty.

• Strong strategic, organizational, operational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Proven ability to turn vision into action and lead through growth or change.

• Experience launching or expanding a school, division, program, or innovative educational initiative is highly desirable.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal Founding High School Principal is someone who sees possibility where others see convention.

This leader will be energized by the opportunity to build, create, and innovate while understanding that the high school is an extension of a successful educational model, not a departure from it. They will preserve the relationships, culture, individualized approach, and commitment to excellence that define Atlanta Academy while imagining how those strengths can evolve for high school students.

They will be visible, approachable, intellectually curious, and deeply invested in students—equally comfortable discussing curriculum with faculty, college aspirations with families, opportunities with community partners, and everyday life with students.

Most importantly, this leader will understand that building an exceptional high school is about more than courses and programs. It is about giving students the challenge, opportunities, relationships, guidance, and confidence to discover their strengths, pursue their ambitions, and leave Atlanta Academy ready to thrive in college and beyond.